Intel Core i3-4340 vs Intel Core i7-2675QM Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The benchmark data presents a clear, consistent picture: the Intel Core i7-2675QM wins every single head-to-head test recorded in the database. Across five Cinebench workloads, the mobile i7 from the Sandy Bridge generation outperforms the desktop i3 from the Haswell generation, albeit by a narrow and uniform margin. The largest gap appears in Cinebench R15 multicore, where the i7-2675QM scores 314 against the i3-4340's 300, a delta of 4.5 percent. The smallest relative difference, 4.3 percent, appears across the R20 single-core, R23 single-core, and R23 multi-core tests.

In Cinebench R20 multicore, the i7-2675QM records 1309 points versus 1252 for the i3-4340, a 4.4 percent advantage. The single-core results tell a similar story: the i7-2675QM leads with 184 points in R20 single-core against 176 for the i3-4340, and 440 points in R23 single-core against 421. Even in the multicore R23 test, which stresses sustained throughput, the i7-2675QM holds a 3118 to 2983 edge. The data shows no test where the i3-4340 manages to close the gap or take a win. The i7-2675QM's victory is consistent, but the margins are tight enough that the two parts belong to the same performance tier in these workloads.

The average benchmark scores reinforce this near-parity. The i3-4340 posts an average score of 1026, while the i7-2675QM sits just below at 1012. Both CPUs occupy the 28th percentile among all processors in the database. The i3-4340's nearest rivals include the Intel Processor N150 with an average score of 1025 and a delta of 0.1 percent, the Intel Core i7-5650U at 1027 with a delta of negative 0.1 percent, and the AMD Ryzen Embedded V1202B at 1027 with the same delta. The i7-2675QM's nearest rivals include the Intel Xeon W5580 at an identical 1012 average score, the Intel Core i5-2300 at 1014 with a delta of negative 0.2 percent, and the Intel Core i3-7100H at 1009 with a delta of 0.3 percent. These surrounding scores confirm that both parts slot into a crowded mid-range band where a few points separate neighbors.

FAQ

Q: Which processor wins in Cinebench R23 multicore?

A: The Intel Core i7-2675QM wins with a score of 3118, beating the Intel Core i3-4340's 2983 by 4.3 percent.

Q: Is the Intel Core i3-4340 ahead in any benchmark?

A: No. The head-to-head data shows the i7-2675QM winning all five recorded tests, with the i3-4340 trailing by between 4.3 and 4.5 percent in each case.

Q: How do their average benchmark scores compare?

A: The i3-4340 has an average benchmark score of 1026, while the i7-2675QM has an average of 1012. Despite the i7 winning every head-to-head test, its average score is slightly lower because the database includes a Geekbench multicore score of 1301 and a single-core score of 415 for the i7, which are not recorded for the i3.

Q: What is the difference in core and thread counts?

A: The i3-4340 has 2 cores and 4 threads, while the i7-2675QM has 4 cores and 8 threads. The i7 has double the core count and double the thread count.

Q: Which processor has a higher base clock speed?

A: The i3-4340 has a base clock of 3.60 GHz, which is higher than the i7-2675QM's base clock of 2.20 GHz. The i7 compensates with a boost clock of 3.10 GHz, a feature the i3 lacks entirely.

Q: Do both processors support the same memory configuration?

A: Both use dual-channel memory and do not support ECC memory. The i3-4340 explicitly supports DDR3, while the i7-2675QM's memory support field is not recorded in the database.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Core i7-2675QM wins every recorded benchmark, so any use case that relies on the Cinebench suite favors the older mobile chip. The multicore tests show the i7's advantage in threaded workloads: R15 multicore at 314 versus 300, R20 multicore at 1309 versus 1252, and R23 multicore at 3118 versus 2983. These margins, while modest, indicate that the i7's 4 cores and 8 threads provide a slight edge over the i3's 2 cores and 4 threads in applications that scale with core count. The single-core tests also favor the i7, with 184 versus 176 in R20 and 440 versus 421 in R23. That means even lightly threaded tasks, such as older games or everyday productivity, lean toward the i7 in the recorded data.

The Intel Core i3-4340 does not have a single recorded win, but the database shows it holding its own in the same performance band. Its average benchmark score of 1026 is actually higher than the i7's 1012, which reflects the i3's stronger showing in certain workloads not captured by the head-to-head list. The i3's higher base clock of 3.60 GHz, compared to the i7's 2.20 GHz base and 3.10 GHz boost, suggests that in short, latency-sensitive tasks where clock speed dominates, the i3 could be competitive. However, the recorded Cinebench numbers do not show this; the i7 wins even the single-core tests. For a builder choosing between the two, the data says the i7-2675QM is the safer bet for both multi-threaded and single-threaded Cinebench workloads, while the i3-4340 offers the advantage of a newer architecture and a higher sustained clock.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ in nearly every core specification. The i3-4340 has 2 cores and 4 threads, while the i7-2675QM has 4 cores and 8 threads. Base clocks diverge sharply: the i3 runs at 3.60 GHz with no boost clock, while the i7 runs at 2.20 GHz base and boosts to 3.10 GHz. Thermal design power differs as well, with the i3 rated at 54 watts and the i7 at 45 watts, despite the i7 having more cores. The sockets are incompatible: the i3 uses Intel Socket 1150, while the i7 uses Intel BGA 1224, meaning they cannot be swapped into the same motherboard. The i3 is a desktop part, while the i7 is a mobile part, and the i7 is marked as end-of-life in the database while the i3's production status is not recorded.

Cache allocations also differ. Both have 64 KB of L1 cache and 256 KB of L2 cache per core, but the shared L3 cache is larger on the i7: 6 MB shared versus 4 MB shared on the i3. The integrated graphics differ, with the i3 featuring Intel HD 4600 and the i7 featuring Intel HD 3000. The i3 supports PCIe Gen 3, while the i7's PCIe generation is not recorded. Memory support lists DDR3 for the i3, while the i7's memory support field is null. Both use dual-channel memory buses and lack ECC support. The i3's part number is SR1NL, and the i7's is SR02S. Neither processor has an unlocked multiplier, so overclocking is not a distinguishing factor.

Architecture Differences

The i3-4340 is built on the Haswell architecture, fabricated on a 22 nm process node. The i7-2675QM is built on the Sandy Bridge architecture, using a 32 nm process node. The newer 22 nm process gives the i3 a denser transistor layout: 1,400 million transistors on a 177 mm² die, compared to 1,160 million transistors on a 216 mm² die for the i7. That means the i3 packs more transistors into a smaller area, a generational improvement in manufacturing efficiency. The i7's larger die and older process contribute to its lower transistor count despite having more cores.

The i3 belongs to the Core i3 (Haswell) generation, while the i7 belongs to the Core i7 (Sandy Bridge) generation. The i3's release date is later, recorded as 2013-08-31, while the i7's release date is 2011-10-11. The i7 carries a production status of end-of-life, while the i3's status is not recorded. The i3's integrated graphics, Intel HD 4600, is a newer generation than the i7's Intel HD 3000. The i7's larger L3 cache, 6 MB versus 4 MB, reflects its positioning as a higher-tier part despite the older architecture. The i3's higher base clock and newer process node do not translate into a benchmark advantage in the recorded data, which suggests that the i7's extra cores and threads outweigh the architectural improvements in Cinebench workloads.

The Verdict

The recorded data points to the Intel Core i7-2675QM as the better performer in every benchmark where the two are compared directly. It wins all five Cinebench tests, with margins ranging from 4.3 to 4.5 percent. For a user whose primary concern is multi-threaded rendering or encoding, the i7's 4 cores and 8 threads deliver a measurable, if small, advantage over the i3's 2 cores and 4 threads. The i7 also wins single-core tests, so even users who prioritize lightly threaded performance should look to the i7 based on the data. The i7's lower TDP of 45 watts versus the i3's 54 watts adds to its appeal in power-constrained builds, though it is a mobile part and requires a BGA 1224 socket.

The Intel Core i3-4340 is not without merit. Its average benchmark score of 1026 is higher than the i7's 1012, meaning that in the broader database, the i3 performs comparably or better in some unrecorded tests. Its 3.60 GHz base clock, the highest of the two, and its newer 22 nm Haswell architecture with Intel HD 4600 graphics make it a more modern part. The i3 supports PCIe Gen 3 and DDR3 memory explicitly, and its 4 MB L3 cache, while smaller than the i7's 6 MB, is adequate for its core count. For a desktop build with a Socket 1150 motherboard, the i3 is the only option of the two, since the i7 cannot fit that socket.

The choice comes down to platform and workload. A builder with a Socket 1150 motherboard should select the i3-4340, as the i7-2675QM is physically incompatible. A user assembling a mobile system or working with a BGA 1224 board should select the i7-2675QM, which offers superior Cinebench scores across the board. The i7's end-of-life status and older architecture are drawbacks, but the benchmark results do not reflect those drawbacks; they show the i7 winning every test. The i3's higher average score in the database suggests it may excel in workloads not covered by the head-to-head list, but for the recorded benchmarks, the i7-2675QM is the clear choice.